LECA efficiently removes gemfibrozil, mefenamic acid and naproxen from water. Vermiculite has faster adsorption kinetics than LECA (non-stirring conditions). Gemfibrozil and mefenamic acid attain a partition equilibrium onto vermiculite. Adsorption of naproxen onto vermiculite follows a Langmuir isotherm. The three drugs all bind to vermiculite in a similar way through the surface’s Mg2+.